Instituto vs Argentinos Jrs
Instituto are going through a little slump at the moment. Last time out, the team succumbed to a 1-0 away defeat at Velez Sarsfield after conceding the winner in the 81st minute. La Gloria made it two consecutive defeats in the Copa Liga Profesional and failed to return into the playoff spots in group A: they remain on 17 points after 11 rounds, trailing fourth-placed Talleres by two. At home, Instituto secured eight points from 18 on offer as a product of two victories, two draws and two losses. Playmaker Jonas Acevedo overcame his muscle problem and is available for Thursday.
Argentinos Juniors took another big step towards the Copa Liga Profesional playoffs in round 11, when they showed an excellent display of football to beat Rosario Central 3-0 at home. Following that result, El Bicho are still one of the group A leaders on 21 points (alongside River Plate and Velez Sarsfield) after three league matches unbeaten (two victories and one draw). On a sorry note, Argentinos have been winless in their last ten on away turf, drawing five and losing five in that spell.
Argentinos is a very different team at home and away as shown by their record (no wins in their last 10 but super strong at home) and they will face here a very needed Instituto who are 2 pts behind the playoffs zone with 3 games left and definitely need a win. The visitors won’t have their best striker, last season’s top scorer Luciano Goundou, and defender Santiago Montiel so I’ll trust the hosts here to take the 3 points they need.